The Texas Tech Red Raiders are No. 71 in the Orlando Sentinel 2017 preseason college football rankings. The Red Raiders are adapting to a new quarterback and it will take work to move up in the Big 12.

Today at No. 71: Texas Tech

Coach: Kliff Kingsbury (24-26, entering fifth season; 24-26 overall)

2016 record: 5-7, 3-6 in Big 12 Conference, tied for sixth in the league

Look back: Texas Tech suffered through growing pains in 2016 as the Red Raiders were forced to rely on a youth, especially on the defensive side of the football. The team opened with wins in three of its first four games before suffering through a dismal stretch that saw Texas Tech drop six of its next eight games to finish with a losing record for the second time in four years under Kliff Kingsbury.

Strengths: Patrick Mahomes II left as one of the program’s most productive players after leading the Big 12 in categories such as passing yards (5,052), passing touchdowns (41) and total yards (5,332). Kingsbury indicated after spring that Nic Shimonek holds an edge to replace Mahomes at quarterback as the senior leads all the candidates with the most experience (464 yards, six touchdowns). McLane Carter and Payne Sullins will also compete for time as well.

Jonathan Giles decided to transfer to LSU is big loss for Texas Tech after he led the Red Raiders in receptions (69) and receiving yards (1,158), but the team does return three players in the form of Dylan Cantrell, Keke Coutee, and Cameron Batson who accounted for more than 3,000 yards in 2016.

Weaknesses: The defense has work to do after the unit finished last in the Big 12 in just about every category including total defense (554 yards per game) and scoring defense (43.5 points per game). Defensive coordinator David Gibbs was forced to rely on a wide range of underclassmen in 2016 with true freshmen on the Red Raiders team taking part in a nation’s-best 4,429 snaps. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks led the team in tackles (85) as a freshman and will carry on a larger role in 2017.

The Red Raiders struggled with the ground game, ranked at the bottom of the Big and near the bottom in the country in rushing offense with 101.5 yards per game. In the offseason, Kingsbury brought back Jabbar Juluke as the program’s new running backs coach. Juluke spent last season in charge of an LSU ground attack that averaged 233 yards per game.

Tony Morales, who started every game at center last season, anchors an offensive line that returns a majority of its experience from 2017. Six different players saw time as a starter up front with the group allowing 30 quarterback sacks.

Outlook: Kingsbury was considered a sort of coaching wunderkind when he took over the Texas Tech program four years ago, but the Red Raiders have never been able to finish higher than fifth in the Big 12 standings. It’s a trend that probably won’t change this season with questions at several positions, including on the defensive side of the football.

Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel ranked all 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country ahead of the 2017 season. The Sentinel staff provides a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 130 to our projected No. 1 team. See all the rankings at OrlandoSentinel.com/rankings.